Organization : Department of Social Security
Type of Facility : Children’s Allowance
Country: Malta
Website : https://socialsecurity.gov.mt/en/
Social Security Children’s Allowance
Children’s Allowance can be divided into two sections, the Children’s Allowance flat rate and the means tested Children’s Allowance benefit.
Related : Social Security Number Online Application Malta : www.statusin.org/8653.html
The Children’s Allowance Flat Rate is awarded to families whose reckonable income exceeds the maximum threshold of €24,439 and children are under 16 years of age.
Families with a reckonable income below the maximum threshold of €24,439 and whose children are under 16 years of age may be entitled to a higher rate of Children’s Allowance. Families whose income is below the maximum threshold can also be entitled to Children’s Allowance in respect of children who are over 16 years but under 21 years, provided they are undergoing a full time educational course without receiving any remuneration or registering for work and were never in employment.
Child in Care Allowance:
Foster Care Allowance is awarded to foster cares who have been certified by the Agenzija Appogg that they are the official Foster Carers of a child. Foster Care Allowance will be paid up to age 21 provided the fostered child is still under the care of the foster parents.
Foster Care Allowance will only be paid if the application is approved and rubber stamped by Agenzija Appogg.
If the family is fostering more than one child, the family will be eligible to Foster Care Allowance for all the children the family is fostering.
Foster Care Allowance is not means tested and is paid at a fixed rate.
Foster Care Allowance cannot be paid in conjunction with Children’s Allowance for the same child.
Disabled Child Allowance:
Disabled Child Allowance is awarded to a family who has the care and custody of a disabled child.
In order to benefit from this Allowance, an application must be submitted, signed by both parents where applicable and endorsed by a doctor to certify the child’s medical condition. Where available, supporting documents regarding the medical condition of child should be submitted with the application. A medical panel appointed by the Department of Social Security examines the child and the medical panel decides whether the child qualifies for the Disabled Child Allowance. The medical panel may approve Disabled Child Allowance up to age 16 or for a period of time, in which case a review will be effected after the lapse of the time indicated by the medical panel.
Disabled Child Allowance is not means tested and is paid at a fixed rate until child reaches his 16th birthday. In circumstances, were the child is visually impaired the Disabled Child Allowance is paid up to the age of 14. After this age, guardiance will need to apply for the Blind Pension.
Disabled Child Allowance can be paid in conjunction with either Children’s Allowance or Children’s Allowance Flat Rate or Foster Care Allowance.
Maternity Benefit:
Maternity Benefit is awarded to a pregnant woman by virtue of being pregnant.
A woman who opts to avail herself of Maternity Leave shall not be entitled to any Maternity Benefit. Thus a claimant must either be unemployed or else if still in employment, claimant must not have availed herself of Maternity Leave. The application must be submitted either after claimant reaches her eighth month of pregnancy or within six months from the birth to the child.
Maternity Benefit is not means tested and is paid at a fixed rate.